<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: THE story of love and life. The best 20th century novel.
Review: Albert Cohen's book is a book on love as Jesus would have written, should he have had any such talent. It's an enlightening and exceptionaly touching account of mutual conquest and destruction, embedded in clouds of wisdom and insight on all aspects of life, religion and culture. It will secretly whisper to your soul its slowly unraveling wisdom on the very few essential things in life. It's a very noble and European-like piece of art and one of mankind's greatest contributions to its struggle against death, as it will stand out for ever.
Rating:
Summary: Wow, hard to forget this one!
Review: Albert Cohen's masterpiece is intimidating both for its size and chapter-long sentences. But, please, do not be discouraged. This is one of the most insightful novels I have read. It delves into the bureacratic labyrinth of international institutions, mocks their functionaries, and is a haunting critique of European virtues on the eve of the Second World War. (Particularly funny for those familar with the World Bank, UN, or government anywhere).But, most importantly, it portrays the relationship between men and women in a profound yet comic way. The book's difficulty is quite worth the struggle, especially when you reach the chapter where Solal seduces his beloved. A chapter that is hard for me to forget, for it shows just how stupid and cruel we are. This is not for the lazy readers, but if you have any guts, read this one. Its worth the while.
Rating:
Summary: THE ultimate love story
Review: Cohen's stream of consciousness - beautiful- style leaves us no escape from this absolute, uncompromising love. I have read the book many times, and it never fails to overwhelm me...although I should add that I have never been able to read the last 20 pages... Ariane and Solal are the most beautiful lovers since forever, unconcerned by others - it is the history of love from start to, ufortunately, the end..
(By the way, the novel does not take place in France, but Switzerland)
Rating:
Summary: THE story of love and life. The best 20th century novel.
Review: This magnificent opus of Albert Cohen is much more than The story of love. It is the story of the dream of love (not only personal, but also in its abstract form) and its impossible realization. It offers an original view of both male and female human nature in matters of love and life. It also contains some of the funniest chapters describing bourgeois society (Swiss, French, Belgian, German, Jewish - you name it) and its values and prejudices, and diplomatic life. Some may find it exaggerated and longwinded, but others will enjoy every single word, and re-read this book every so often. If you can't read it in the original French, don't miss this opportunity and read the English translation.
<< 1 >>
| 
